Stabilizer for flying-machines.



J. S. DALE, In. l STABILIZER FOR FLYING MACHINES. APPLICATION mso mmzs. 1915.'

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T/Vz'nesses: a 727, A? 9 g MMX-Ma l. S. DALE, ln. STABILIZER FOR yFLYING MACHINS. L APPLICATIUN FILED MAR. 25. |915.

1,214,901. Pubmed Feb. 6,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 8 1 l 57 619 6] 6l 60 y 5g 9 "5L Q wf Witnesses: 9 [nvcntorf I. S. DALE, In. STABILIZER FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. |915.

Patented Feb.k6, 1917.

ISIIEETS-SHEET 3 JOSEPH s. DALE, JR., OFNEW YORK, 1v. Y.

STABILIZER FOR FLYING-MACHIN ES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Pateni ed Feb. 6, 1917.

Application filed March 25, 1915. Serial No. 16,937.

means being eilicient to automatically right the machine whenever it becomes laterally out of balance, and to automatically bring the machine to its proper angle of lateral inclination Whenever it travels in a horizontally curved path.

Another object of my improvements is to provide means for manually controlling the governing means, When so desired.

A further object of my improvements is to provide means for locking the manual controlling means in any desired position.

A stillfurther object of my improvements is to provide means whereby, When the operator releases his control of the manuai. controlling means and of the loclring means, the several manually operated means Will automatically return to their normally :inactive positions and thus free the governing means for automatic opera tion.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. With these objects in view the preferred form of my improvements is illustrated inv the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a sectional plan view on line 1-l of Fig. 2, showing in ,detail the stabilizer plane actuating andgoverning mechanism of my improved device. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional elevation taken on line Fig. 3 is a sectional view of part of the clutch operating mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. l is a transverse sectional vievv of 'the lower portion,

of that Which is shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5

is an elevation partly in section, showing.

details of the manual controlling and locking means of my improved device. Fig. 6 is a perspective plan View illustrating the means operatively connecting the manual controlling means of Fig. 5 with the gov" erning means.` Fig. is a partial plan vieW similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modification of the governing means shown in said figure, said view bling taken on line rl-7 of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation or' what is shown in Fig. 7 and taken on line 8*8'of said igure. Fig. 9 is a detail of the governing means shown in' Figs.`7 and 8. Fig. 10 i:` a rear perspective vienY of a flying machine embodying the application of my improvements. Figs. 1, 3, 4l., 7, 8 and 9 are to one scale; Figs. 5 and 6 are to a smaller scale; whileFig. 10 is to a greatly reduced saale. y

Before describing the invention in detail I desire to have it unde 'stood that the invention is not limitedto the particular' construction and arrangement Yof parts Which I have illustrated and s'l all-hereinafterdescribe, and that various changes may be made Within the scope of the claims Without departing from the spirit of the invention,

and that thephraseologv Which I employ is for the purpose of discription and not of limitation.

My improvements are herein illustrated as applied to that type of iying machine commonly known as a lriplane, but it Will be obvious to those skill :ed in the art that said improvements are equally applicable to other known forms ot heavier than air flying machines and arf not restricted to the particular type illustrated.

The actuating and g( verning .means of my improved device are llustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings as contained in a casing, 2. Rotatably mounted in bearings 3, 4, of said casing, are clutch shafts 5, 6 respectively. Shaft 5 i continuously rotated, `Whenever the fiyi: 1g machine prime motor is in operation, b5 means of gear 7, fixedV tosaiol shaft' and intermeshing with gear 8, rigidly mounted on driving shaft 9 of said prime motor. E haft 5 drives shaft 6, at the same speed and in the same direction, by means-ofequal sprockets 10 and 1,1, fixed to saidi shafts respectively, and geared together by mean:` of sprocket chain 12, mounted on said sprockets. Coaxial with shafts 5 and 6 are rhafts 13, 14, rota tably mounted in bearir gs 15, 16, respecclutches are-alike in function and parts, a detail description of one will suflice for both. Loosely mounted on, but engaging a spline in shaft 5 for rotation therewith, is a series of friction disks 21. Also loosely mounted on said shaft 5 land alternating with said disks y21,- is anthe'r series of friction vdisks 22, said disks 22 engaging a spline or groove in the interior of cup-like extension 23 of shaft 13 for rotation with said shaft. Loosely mounted on shaft 13 and rotatable therewith is a collar 24 having` pins 25, preferably. four in number, which reach through holes in' the wall of said cup-like extension 23 and engage the face of .adjacent friction disk 22. Also loosely mounted on said shaft 13 andclosely adjacent to collar 24 is another collar 26, a thrust ball bearing 89 being provided between the adjacent portions of said collars 24 and 26. Collar 26 is held against rotation by forked member 27, extending outwardly to the right from support 28 of governing weight 29, said support being pivotally mounted at 30 in upstanding arm 31 of casing 2. The inner surfaces 85 of forked member 27, formed concentric with pivot 30, slidably engage corresponding concentric surfaces 86 of collar 26, respectively. v Y

VVeight'sup'port 28 extends through suit able openings in the top and bottom Walls of casing 2, and immediately without said bottom openingl and between the adjacent surfaces of said casing and said support, are

provided ball bearings 32 for guiding said weight support 28 in its slight, lateral movements, said ball bearings also being concentric with said pivot 30. Wedge members 33 are rigidly7 mounted on the inboard vertical face of forked member 27, the inclined surfaces 34 of said wedges slidably engaging corresponding inclined surfaces 35 on collar 26, respectively. ledges 33 'are adjustable on forked member 27 by means of slots 36 in said forkand binding screws 3'7 passing therethrough and threading into said wedges. Fork 38 extends outwardly to the left from weight support 28 and, as the action of the wedges on said fork upon the Collars mounted on shaft 14 is in all respects similar to` that of the corresponding parts just described in connection with shaft "143., a further description of said fork 38 and said collars is deemed unnecessary. On the outboard end of shaft 13 is fixed drum 39 for operating the stabilizer planes.

Thus, when weightv support 28 is caused to move to the right, inclined surfaces 34 of 'wedges 33 on fork 27 will mount-'the correspontlin'g inclined surfaces 35 of collar 26, and cause pins 25 lof collar 24 to press friction disks 22 o f shaft 13 and friction disks 21 of shaft 5 together and against shoulder 40 of shaft 5, when shaft 13 and drum 39 will rotate in the same direction as said shaft 5. Or, when weight support 28 is caused to move tothe left, the inclined sur faces of the wedges on fork 38 will then cause the several parts of lfriction clutch 2O tocoact and said clutch to operate, when shaft 14 will rotate in the same direction as shafts 5 6 and, through gears 17, 18, will cause shaft 13 and drum 39 to rotate in the direction opposite to that of said shaft 5.

Drum 39 is operatively connected with stabilizer plane 4l means of a flexible wire, wrapped several times around said drum and the two ends of which, 42, 43, extending outwardly to the left yand over suitable guide pulleys, are connected to the top and bottom of said plane, respectively. Stabilizer plane 44 is also operatively connected with said drum 39 by means of another Hexible wire wrapped around said'drum and the two ends of which, 45, 46, extending outwardly to the right and over suitable guide pulleys, are connected with the top and bottom of that plane, respectively. Said planes 41, 44 are normally horizontal and are pivotally mounted at their front portions to the main fra-me of the flying machine in such manner that their rear portions may be oscillated up or down by means of the wire connections just described and fastened to said rear portions, as wires 42, 43 to plane 41. The arrangement of these connections is such that when drum 39 is rotated, stab- 1112er planes 41 and 44 will be caused to move `each in a direction opposite to that of the other. See Figs. 1, 7 and 10.

The means for manually controllingthe governing means 'of my improved device are illustrated particularly in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, wherein steering wheel shaft 47 is shown rotatably mounted in sleeve 48, which again is rotatably mounted in bearings 49, 50, supported on the main frame of the flyingmachine. Fixed to the upper end of said sleeve 48 is hand wheel 51, and to the lower end thereof is fixed winding drum or pulley 52. A fiexible wire is wrapped several times around said drum 52 and the two ends of which, 53, 54, extend respectively, rearwardly and outwardly through guide bolts 55, 56 and around guide pulleys 57, 58. rlhe ends of wires 53, 54 are connected to tension springs 59, 60, respectively, the opposite ends of said springs being fastened respectively, to eye-bolts 61, 62. Said guide bolts, guide pulleys and `eye-bolts are all secured to Vthe underside of lower plane G3 of the fiyjing machine. Also connected to the ends o-f wires 53, 54, respectively, are short lengths of chain G5, G6, the other ends of which are connected respectively, to tension springs 67, 68, and the opposite ends of which springs are connected to weight 29 of the automatic governing means. Said chains 65, 66 and springs 67, 68 are arranged with sufficient slackness to allow weight 29 lie normal position of disengagement with` clutch member 69, by means of pins 71 extending outwardly therefrom and in engagement with slotted holes in the surrounding `portion of foot-lever 72, pivotally mounted at 73 in arm 74 upstanding from bearing 50. The other end of foot-lever 72 extends over the front edge of lower plane 68 of the flying machine and is held in its normal position by compression spring 75.

i Thus, `when hand-wheel 51 is rotated in clockwise direction, wire 53 will wind upon said drum 52 and wire 54 will unwind therefrom, causing spring 59 to distend and the slackness of chain 65 and spring 67 to be taken up, and further causing said spring 67 to distend, until tension is exerted -upon weight 29, moving said weight and weight support 28 to the left, when clutch 20 of the governing means will operate. Upon handwheel 51 being rotated in anti-clockwise direction, weight 29 and weight support 28 will be moved to the right, in a manner similar to that just described, when clutch 19 of the governing means will operate. Stop members 76,77, rigidly secured to wires 53,

54, for engagement with guide bolts 55, 56, respectively, are provided for limiting the movement of said wires and thus gaging ay maximum amount o-f tension to which said springs 67, `68 may be subjected. When drum 52 has been rotated to a position causing tension on either of sprn'igs 67, 68, itv

may be locked in said position by operating cone clutch meiinber 7() to engagement with clutch member 69 of said drum 52 by means of foot lever 72, and may be held so locked at the will of the operator, thus freeing wheel 51 from the need of hand control. When the hand-wheel 51 and foot lever 72 are both released, drum 52 and wires 58, 54 will be caused to return to their normal positions of Fig. 6 by means of tension springs 59, 60 seeking a state of equilibrium.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings weight 29 of the governing means is shown as being pivotally supported at 30. Such pivotal construction is not essential to the operation of my improved device and in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, I have illustrated a modification of this portion of the mechanism. Therein governing weight 78 is shown as mounted for free but slight lateral movement within casing 2 and between shafts 13, 14. Said weight is at all times supported and is guided in movement by means of forked members 79,

80 which extend outwardl therefrom a suicient distance to overlap ugs 5.1, 82 extending inwardly from the side walls of casing 2.

Between the adjacent faces of s :iid forks `and said lugs, ball bearings 83am` provided in V shaped grooves in said fa( es. Arm 84 reaching downwardly from weight 78 and extending through a suitable o pening in the lower wall of casing 2, is pr( vided forreceivingthe ends of tension springs 67, 68.`

The lateral movement of tl is governing mechanism being in a straight path, the coengaging surfaces of the c llars loosely mounted on shafts 13, 14 anc of forks 78, 80, respectively, are plane sur aces, as inner surfaces" 87 of fork 79, and aorresponding surfaces 88 of collar 26 of ihaft 13. As

the construction and operation of the governing means of Figs. 7 anc 8 are in all other respects similar to those if the governlng means of Figs. 1 and 2, a further description of theshowing of said Figs. 7. and

8 is deemed unnecessary.

The operation of my improx` ed device is as follows:

It will first be understood tl lat the actuating and governing means, sliown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, 8, are so constructed as toV operate freely yet with a minimum of lost motion, so that clutches 19, 20 will quicltly respond to the slight movements of weigh t 29, or weight 78. Also, the wedge members which actuate clutches 19, 20, are so adjus ed as to have their inclined surfaces loosely engaging the corresponding inclined surface s of the respective collars on shafts 13, 14, so lthat any motion of governing weight 21, or governing weight 78, will tend to oper te one or the other of said clutches 19, 20.

The biplane now beingin flightand the prime motor in driven from motor shaft 9, wi llcontinuously rotate in the direction of theil' respective arrows, as shown in Fig. 1. illso, assuming that said biplane is in normal position laterally, weight 29, or weight 78, will be in central position, clutches 19, 20 will be out of operation, and shafts 13, 1 t, drum 89 and stabilizer planes 41, 44, will be at rest. If now for any cause the bipltne should inweight 29, or governing we1git'78, will move operation, siafts 5 and 6,

also to the right, causing tl: e inclined surf faces'34 of wedges 33 to mount'the corresponding inclined surfaces E5 of collar 26, thus moving said collar 26 and collar 24 slightly lengthwise of shaft i3 and causing pins 25 of said collar 24 to p tess disks 22 of shaft 13 and disks 21' of slaaft 5 together and against shoulder 40 oi saidv shaft 5, when clutch 19 will be causer. to operate and shaft 13 to rotate in the sa: ne direction as shaft 5. Collar 26 being held against rotation on shaft 13 and at the same time pressed toward collar 24, which collar rotates with said shaft 13, the adjacent faces of said collars are enabled to pass freely by one another by means of thrust ball bearing 89 therebetween. Drum 39, iXed to the outboard end of shaft 13, now rotating in clockwise direction, will wind iieXible wire 46 thereon and unwind wire 45 therefrom and, at the same time, wind wire 42 thereon and unwind wire 43 therefrom, thus pulling stabilizer plane 44 downwardly and stabilizer plane 41 upwardly, when the biplane will speedily become righted. Or, if the biplane should inoline downwardly to the left, said governing weight will also move to the left and, in the same manner as that just described in connection with clutch 19, will cause clutch 2O to operate and to rotate shaft 14 in the same direction as shafts 5 and 6 and, through gears 18, 17, fiXed to shafts 14, 13, respectively, will cause shaft 13 to rotate in the direction opposite to that of shafts 5 and 6. Drum 39, now rotating in anticlockwise direction, wire 43 will wind thereon and Wire 42 will unwind therefrom and, at the same time, wire 45 will Wind thereon and wire 46 will unwind therefrom, thus pulling stabilizer plane 41 downwardly and stabilizer plane 44 upwardly, when the biplane will again become righted.

Again, if the operator causes the biplane to travel in a horizontally curved path, curving sharply to the left for instance, said governing weight will then through centrifugal action move to the right, operating clutch 19 and rotating drum 39 in clockwise direction, thus lowering stabilizer plane 44 and elevating stabilizer plane 41, when the right hand end of the biplane will be elevated and the left hand end depressed, until such angle of inclination is reached as will cause said biplane to be in a state of equilibrium, relatively to the degree of curvature of its path and the speed with which it is traveling, when said governing weight will come to its central position and thus allow the stabilizer planes to assume their normal, idle positions. Or, if the operator should cause the biplane to travel in a horizontally curved path to the right, the governing weight will then move to the left, operati'ng clutch 20, when said drum 39 will rotate in anti-clockwise direction, thus lowering stabilizer plane 41 and elevating stabilizer plane 44, when the biplane will incline downwardly to the right until such angle is reached as will again bring the biplane to a state of equilibrium relatively to the curvature of its path and the speed of its travel, and the governing weight and stabilizer planes Will come 'to their normal idle positions, as described above.

My improved device is of such nature that it'responds proportionately to the work it is called upon to do. Clutches 19,20 are sensitive in operation and may ,gradually vary i'n action, from doing no work to that of their full capacity. Governing weight 29, or governing weight 78, has practically no lost motion, so that any movement of said weight will tend to operate either one clutch or the other. If said weight moves or tends to move with but little force the clutch acted upon will but lightly operate. Ifsaid weight tends to move with greater force the clutch acted upon will do correspondingly more Work. Hence, the device being under automatic control, if the biplane should suddenly incline downwardly in lateral direction, the amount of power transmitted will be proportional to the angle of inclination and,as the biplane gradually becomes -righted, the amount of power transmitted will gradually lessen until it ceases altogether ron the biplane coming to its normal position. Also, such sudden inclination of the biplane `causes the weight operating the` clutches to act with greater momentum and to more powerfully and quickly actuate the clutch operated upon, so that the response of the mechanism is proportionate to the sudden need for righting the biplane. Thus, with my improved device, there is no tendency ofthe biplane to oscillate back and forth laterally; the action is purely corrective and markedly gentle and smooth. These qualities vare all preserved when the biplane travels in a horizontally curved path. The governing weight, then actuated by centrifugal force, at first causes the clutch 'acted upon to transmit an amount of power proportionate to the corrective need. As the biplane gradually approaches its proper angle of inclination the amount of power transmitted to the stabilizer planes gradually lessens until it ceases altogether on the biplane coming to a state of equilibrium. So that with my vimproved device under automatic control, there is a steadiness and gracefulness. of flight that is highly desirable.

If at anytime it is desired to control the stabilizing means by hand, as for instance when the automatic governing means fails to operate sufficiently because of need for adjustment, the operator manually actuates the governing means by operating handwheel 51 for stabilizing the machine. If the biplane is inclined downwardly to the left said hand-wheel is rotated in clockwise direction, rotating sleeve 48 and drum 52 fixed thereto in the same direction, and winding wire 53 on said "drum and unwinding wire 54 therefrom, until stop 76 of wire 53 encounters guide bolt 55, when spring 59 will be distended and the slackness of chain 65 and spring 67 taken up. Said spring 67 Will then be distended, and weight 29, or weight 78, pulled to the left with more than the usual force, when clutch 2O will be caused to transmit more power than usual to stabilizer planes 41 and 44, thus pulling stabilizer plane 41v downwardly and stabilizer plane 44 upwardly to their extreme positions. 1f the biplane is inclined downwardly to the right, hand-wheel 51 is rotated in anti-clockwise direction, when the opposite action to that just described takes place.

The extreme positions of saidV stabilizer planesll and 44 in either direction are determined by stop members on their respective operating wires coming in contact with the respective guide pulleys over which said wires run, as stop member 90 of wire 113 of stabilizer plane 41 coming in. contact with guide pulley 91 of said wire. Whenever said stabilizer planes are stoppedin either of their extreme positions by said stop menib'ers, the transniiitting clutch then in operation will slip, as the resistance to the operation of said clutch will be greater than its capacity of transmission. This condition, however, rarely occurs and, as a rule, only when the controlling means is under manual operation. Ordinarily, when the stabilizer `plane actuating means is under automatic control, the stabilizer planes do not reach their cxtreme positions, as the biplane is in the act yof being righted before this occurs. Under normal conditions and automatic control the angular movement of said planesis but little. y

lf, after the operator has rotated handwheel 51 and the stabilizer planes have moved to either of their extreme positions, it is desired to retain said planes in said positions for a more or less extended period, the operator then presses foot lever 72 downwardly with his foot, when non-rotatable cone clutch member 7.0 will engage upstandine' clutch portion 69 of drum 52 and hold said drum against rotation, thus locking the several parts in their then positions and freein the hand of the operator. Upon the need or manual control of the governing means ceasing the operator removes his foot from foot lever 72, when the several parts of the manual mechanism return to their normal positions and the governing means is freed for automatic operation.

I claim:

1. A flying machine stabilizer including in combination l power driven means coinpi'ising two shafts adapted for synchronous rotation in the same direction,"a drum mounted for rotation in either direction, a clutch on each of said shafts for transmitting rotation to said drum, reversing means between one of said clutches and said drum, an oscillatable stabilizer plane, a wire wrapped around said drum and having its ends connected to the top and bottom respectively of said plane, a weight movable laterally of the stabilizer, and means on said movable wei ht for at one time operating one of said cutches to rotate said drum in one direction and at another time operating i cillatable stabilizer the other of said clutches to r )tate said drum in the opposite direction.

2. A flying machine stabilizer including in combination power driven means comi'nfising two shafts adapted for synchronous rotation in the same di irection, a drum mounted for rotationin either direction, a clutch on each of said shafts for transmitting rotation between one of said clutches and said drum, two oscillatable stabilizer planes, a wire wrapped around said drum n one direction and having its ends connecte l to the top and bottom respectively of one of said planes and another wire wrapped aroui d said drum in to said drum, ieversing meansv the opposite direction and iaving its ends connected to the top and bot om respectively of the other of said planes, a weight movable laterally of the stabilizer, an d means on said movable weight for at one time operating one of said clutches to rota `:e said drum in one direction and at another time operating the other of said clutches to i lotate said drum in the opposite direction.

3. A flying machine stabil zer including in combination power driven means comprising two shafts adapted for synchronous rotation in the same direction a drum ,mounted for rotation in either di 'ection, a clutch on each of said shafts for tr ansmittng rotation to said drum, reversing 1,' means between one of said clutches and sai d drumtwo oscillatabler' stabilizer planes, means opera- '4 tively connecting said drum with said planes for synchronously moving each plane vin a direction opposite to that o? the other plane upon rotation of the drum a weight movable laterally of the stabiliz ar, and means on said movable weight for at one time operating one of said clutches to rotate said drum in one direction and at ano :.her time operating the other of said clutches to rotate said drum in the opposite direction. l

4. A {iying machinestabi lizer includingin `combination power driven means'comprissynchronous roa drum mounta clutch ing two shafts adaptedy foi tation in the same direction, ed for rotation in either direction,

on each of said shafts for transmitting rota'- tion to said drum, reversir g means between one of said clutches and said drum, an osaround said druml and hai ing its ends connected to the top and bott( rn respectively of said plane, a weightmovat le laterally of the l stabilizer, and wedges (n said movable weight for at one time operating one .of said plane, a wire wrapped" clutches to rotate said drui a in one direction and at another time opera ting the other of said'clutches to rotate sai( drum 1n the opposite direction.

5. A. flying machine stat ilizer including in combination power driven means comprising two shafts adapted for synchronous rotation in the same direction,

a rum mounted for rotation in either direction, a clutch on each of said shafts for transmitting rotation to said drum, reversin means between one of said clutches and said stabilizer planes, a Wire Wrapped around said drum in onel direction and having its ends connected to the top and bottom respectively of one of said planes and another Wire wrapped around said drum in the opposite direction and having its ends connected to the top and bottom respectively of the other of said planes, a Weight movable laterally of the stabilizer, and wedges on said movable Weight for at one time operating one of said clutches to r'otate said drum in one direction and at another time operating the other of said clutches to rotate said drum in the opposite direction.

6. A ilying machine stabilizer including in combination power driven means comprising two shafts adapted for synchronous rotation in the same direction, a drum mounted for rotation in either direction, a clutch on. each of said shafts for transmitting rotation to said drum, reversing means between one of said clutches and said drum, two oscillatable stabilizer planes, a wire wrapped around said drum in one direction and having its ends connected to the top and tively of one of said planes and another wire Wrapped around said drum in the opposite direction and having its ends connected to the top and bottom respectively of the other of said planes, a weight movable laterally of the stabilizer, and Wedges on said movable weight for at one time operating one of said clutches to rotate said drum in one direction Copies of drum, two oscillatable' bottom respecv and at another time operating the other of said clutches to rotate said drum in the opposite direction, the operation of said clutches by said wedges being proportionate to the variation of the stabilizer laterally from its normal.

7. A flying machine stabilizer including in combination power driven means comprising two shafts adapted for synchronous rotation in the same direction, a drum mounted for rotation in either direction, a clutch on each of said shafts for transmitting rotation to said drum, reversing means between one of said clutches and said drum, two oscillatable stabilizer planes, means operatively connecting said drum with said planes for synchronously moving each plane in a direction opposite to that of the other plane upon rotation of the drum, a weight movably laterally of the stabilizer, and means on said movable weight for at one .time operating one of said clutches to-rotate said drum in one direction and at another time operating the other of said clutches to rotate said drum in the opposite direction, the operation of said clutches by the means on said movable weight beingproportionate to the variation of the stabilizer laterally from its normal.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 22 day of March, 1915, before two subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH s. DALE, JR.

Witnesses:

CHAs. W. LA RUE, Moms E. LEvY.

this patent may be obtained forV five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

